Table units

ABSTRACT

A system of table units comprising one or more basic units of circular form and auxiliary units whose peripheral shape includes a concavity of the same curvature as the basic unit and means for effecting edge-to-edge releasable connection of said main and auxiliary units.

United States Patent 91 Finestone [4 1 Feb. 6, 1973 1 TABLE UNITS [76] Inventor: Paul Ian Finestone, 20, Sheldon Avenue, Highgate, London, N.6., England [22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 113,315

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb, 12, 1970 Great Britain ..6,816/70 [52] U.S. Cl ..108/64, 108/114 [51] Int. Cl. .,A47b 7/00 [58] Field of Search ..108/64, 66, 69, 65, 114; 248/206 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,342,147 9/1967 Shettles ..108/64 3,609,934 10/1971 OCarroll ..248/206 A 1,198,227 9/1916 Hinchey ..248/206 A 3,314,634 4/1967 Carter ..248/206 A 3,043,289 7/1962 Fox ..243/206 A 3,318,268 5/1967 Hagwell.... .....l08/66 X 2,694,609 1 H1954 Trafford ..108/64 1,392,527 10/1921 Santoro.... ..108/64 811,209 1/1906 Farrell ..108/66 X 1,575,954 3/1926 Walaschek ..108/65 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,463,176 11/1966 France ..108/64 Primary Examiner-Fr ancis K. Zugel AttorneyHolcombe, Wetherill & Brisebois [57] ABSTRACT A system of table units comprising one or more basic units of circular form and auxiliary units whose peripheral shape includes a concavity of the same curvature as the basic unit and means for effecting edgeto-edge releasable connection of said main and auxiliary units.

14 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures TABLE UNITS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to table units, an object being to provide a unitary system which can be adapted to accommodate any desired number of people in a floor area of any size and shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Extendable tables have already been proposed employing slidable and hinged flaps arranged to be stowed or housed underneath a main table top. Proposals have also been made for systems of so-called modular office furniture based on a rectangular unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a system of table units comprises a basic unit, and other separate units whose periphery comprises or includes a concavity matching a convex segment of the periphery of the basic unit. In this context periphery means the surrounding edge of a unit, and a peripheral concavity means that the surrounding edge has a part which, in plan view, is concave. A convex segment of the periphery of a basic unit means a part of the periphery of the basic units which is of convex shape in plan view.

More particularly a set of interfitting table units comprises at least one basic unit of symmetrical shape about a main axis normal to the table surface, and at least two other separate auxiliary units each having a concave peripheral part capable of fitting to the periphery of the basic unit, or to a convex peripheral segment of said unit.

The basic unit may be of circular or of regular polygonal shape in plan with the apex angles greater than a right angle, whilst the auxiliary units have a concave peripheral segment of the same basic shape, i.e., of the same radius of curvature in the case of a circular table, and of the same geometry in the case where the basic unit is a regular polygon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying simplified diagrammatic drawings of a system of table units having a basic unit of circular form.

The drawings all show plan views unless otherwise indicated.

FIG. 1 is a basic unit A of circular shape of radius r;

FIG. 2 is a concentric collar, B;

FIG. 3 is a symmetrical link unit C having two concave semi-circular edges a and b of the same radius of curvature as FIG. 1; b

FIG. 4 is a right angle spur unit D having a concavity c of similar curvature;

FIG. 5 is a unit E substantially of arrow head shape having, for example, a right-angled apex, two concave arcs d and e again of the same radius of curvature r, and a convex arc f of greater radius of curvature;

FIG. 6 is a non-symmetrical link unit F having two concave arcs g and h or radius r, a concave arc j of greater radius and a concentric convex arc k of still greater radius;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a table with an assembly of the units A and B of FIGS. 1 and 2 and having a pedestal P.

FIGS. 8to 11 are plan views of some of the possible assemblies;

FIG. 8 is an assembly of units A and C;

FIG. 9 is an assembly of units A, C and D;

FIG. 10 is an assembly of four units A, and four of the units E;

FIG. 11v is an assembly of a number of units A and F.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a link assembly of the type shown in FIG. 8 with an engaging device.

FIG. 13 is a more detailed sectional view of a part of FIG. 12 on a larger scale.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged section on the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, each circular table unit A has a number of equally spaced magnetic segments fitted into its outside edge. In the example shown there are six segments marked A1 to A6.

A magnetic segment, shown in horizontal section in FIG. 13, consists of an upper and lower mild steel arcuate segment marked G1 and G2 spaced apart by a convenient number of permanent magnet pieces marked M1 to M8, the whole being riveted together and sunk into a slot in the table edge so that the steel segments G1 and G2 forming the pole pieces are flush with the table edge.

The opposing surfaces on the interengaging units C of the link assembly consist of a mild steel strip H carrying pairs of locating studs 1, 2, etc. which engage between the plates G1 and G2 of the magnetic segments. The engaging device works on the principle that the studs, for example, as shown at 2 in FIG. 14, completely prevent any movement in the vertical plane whilst the magnetic flux closed through the plates G1 and G2 and the strip H firmly holds the interengaging table surfaces in position. The magnetic flux path may also in part pass through the locating studs 2, without detracting from their main function. Single studs such as 3, 4 may also be provided at the ends of the strips H. The described engaging device provides a quick and simple method of releasable attachment between any of the units in FIGS. 7 to 11, and permits any basic unit A to be presented from any direction for fitting into the system. The engaging device as described may also be adapted for rectilinear edge-on connections, for example of units C and D of FIG. 9.

Obvious modifications can be devised on the various units and assemblies above described. For example the number of spur units D may be increased at will in combination with units C. The arcuate formation may have an internal diameter equal to the outer diameter of unit B, or alternatives of unit F may be used having greater radii for the curved segments j and k. The arcuate concave segments of the units may be aliquot parts, or not, of 360. For example, the arrow head units E may interconnect any circular formation of a number n of units A less than or greater than four. When interconnecting three units A, the units B will have an apex angle of l20. Simple latches arranged underneath the units may alternatively or additionally be used for interconnection if required.

What is claimed is:

1. A system of table top units comprising at least two basic units and at least one auxiliary unit having a peripheral edge which includes two concavities dimensioned to abut two convex segments of the respective peripheral edges of two basic units connectable by said auxiliary unit, the units being provided with means to support the auxiliary unit at the abuttable edges of the table tops of the basic units and the auxiliary unit, which auxiliary unit has a dimension, in the direction bisecting the unit between its peripheral concavities, not less than the dimension of the basic units in the direction which lies parallel to said bisecting direction in the connected condition of the units.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises permanent magnetic elements and pole pieces at the peripheral edge of one unit and a ferromagnetic body providing a path closing the magnetic flux secured at the peripheral edge of a second unit.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a peripheral edge of one unit houses a pair of arcuate pole pieces sunk into a similarly shaped slot in said edge, and at least one permanent magnetic element between said pole pieces.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ferromagnetic flux closing body is a strip secured to said peripheral edge with its thickness dimension in a plane parallel to the table surface.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises permanent magnetic means exerting an'attraction parallel to the common plane of the table units and heating means preventing relative movement of said table units normal to said common plane whilst the permanent magnetic means are holding the table units in edge to edge contact.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said locating means are projections upon an edge of one unit engaging in a slot in the edge of the other unit.

7. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the releasable connecting means comprise mechanical parts having no effect on the permanent magnetic flux path and serving to prevent relative movement of the table units normal to their common plane.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the units are releasably interconnected by first means holding said units in edge-to-edge contact and second means preventing relative movement normal to the common plane of said units.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first means are ferromagnetic and said second means are mechanical.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic unit is circular and each auxiliary unit has two semi-circular concavities.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one auxiliary unit has a peripheral edge defined by two opposed side edges and two opposed semi-circular concavities at the respective ends.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one auxiliary unit has a peripheral edge defined by two opposed and parallel arcuate side edges and two opposed semi-circular concavities at the respective ends.

13. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one auxiliary unit has a peripheral edge including three semi-circular concavities.

14. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one auxiliary unit has two semi-circular concavities separated by a stem having a rectangular arrowhead at one end. 

1. A system of table top units comprising at least two basic units and at least one auxiliary unit having a peripheral edge which includes two concavities dimensioned to abut two convex segments of the respective peripheral edges of two basic units connectable by said auxiliary unit, the units being provided with means to support the auxiliary unit at the abuttable edges of the table tops of the basic units and the auxiliary unit, which auxiliary unit has a dimension, in the direction bisecting the unit between its peripheral concavities, not less than the dimension of the basic units in the direction which lies parallel to said bisecting direction in the connected condition of the units.
 1. A system of table top units comprising at least two basic units and at least one auxiliary unit having a peripheral edge which includes two concavities dimensioned to abut two convex segments of the respective peripheral edges of two basic units connectable by said auxiliary unit, the units being provided with means to support the auxiliary unit at the abuttable edges of the table tops of the basic units and the auxiliary unit, which auxiliary unit has a dimension, in the direction bisecting the unit between its peripheral concavities, not less than the dimension of the basic units in the direction which lies parallel to said bisecting direction in the connected condition of the units.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises permanent magnetic elEments and pole pieces at the peripheral edge of one unit and a ferromagnetic body providing a path closing the magnetic flux secured at the peripheral edge of a second unit.
 3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a peripheral edge of one unit houses a pair of arcuate pole pieces sunk into a similarly shaped slot in said edge, and at least one permanent magnetic element between said pole pieces.
 4. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ferro-magnetic flux closing body is a strip secured to said peripheral edge with its thickness dimension in a plane parallel to the table surface.
 5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises permanent magnetic means exerting an attraction parallel to the common plane of the table units and locating means preventing relative movement of said table units normal to said common plane whilst the permanent magnetic means are holding the table units in edge to edge contact.
 6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said locating means are projections upon an edge of one unit engaging in a slot in the edge of the other unit.
 7. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the releasable connecting means comprise mechanical parts having no effect on the permanent magnetic flux path and serving to prevent relative movement of the table units normal to their common plane.
 8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the units are releasably interconnected by first means holding said units in edge-to-edge contact and second means preventing relative movement normal to the common plane of said units.
 9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first means are ferromagnetic and said second means are mechanical.
 10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic unit is circular and each auxiliary unit has two semi-circular concavities.
 11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one auxiliary unit has a peripheral edge defined by two opposed side edges and two opposed semi-circular concavities at the respective ends.
 12. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one auxiliary unit has a peripheral edge defined by two opposed and parallel arcuate side edges and two opposed semi-circular concavities at the respective ends.
 13. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one auxiliary unit has a peripheral edge including three semi-circular concavities. 